A JOINT sixth form in Thornbury shared by two secondary schools could be sold off for redevelopment, according to plans being made public next month.

The Gazette has learned that plans put forward by the Castle School Education Trust (CSET) in November include proposals for the Castle School and Marlwood School shared sixth form on Gloucester Road to be moved to the main site on Park Road.

The plans come as part of the One Public Estate initiative, which is delivered in partnership by the Local Government Association and the Cabinet Office Government Property Unit to bring together public assets.

Should the proposals be given the green light, the site is likely to be put up for sale for redevelopment.

Currently there are 1,297 students in years seven to 11 at The Castle School, with a further 366 in the joint sixth form.

It is believed that the sixth form playing field would be unlikely to be built on, due to its protected nature as a school field, unless special action is taken in which plans would have to be presented to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for approval.

A report for the initiative, covering Thornbury, is due to be unveiled during South Gloucestershire Council’s cabinet meeting on November 6.

A spokesman for CSET said: “Castle School Education Trust are working with South Gloucestershire Council to identify opportunities to improve the condition of buildings at The Castle School, some of which are no longer fit for purpose.

The spokesman added that no specific plans have been agreed at this stage.

The sixth form centre was originally built in 1880 when Thornbury Grammar School moved from its original home on Castle Street. The Grammar School eventually closed in 1972 as pupils were relocated to Alveston with the founding of Marlwood.

Since then, it has been used for further studies as the Castle School Sixth Form, with Marlwood pupils returning in recent years as the two schools came under the CSET umbrella.

An SGC spokesman said: “One Public Estate is a government project to work with local councils to help make the best use of publicly owned land and to help provide funding and coordination to investigate ways to provide more convenient services and unlock land for economic growth whilst ensuring the taxpayers get value for money by ensuring councils run as efficiently as they can.

“One Public Estate will be discussed at cabinet on November 6 in public, and members of the public are encouraged to come along. It will also be coming to future council meetings in the New Year.”